Commencement to be held on quad at 1 p.m.

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - Lycoming College will hold its Class of 2011 graduation ceremonies May 7-8. Approximately 300 students are expected to receive their degrees during Lycoming's 163rd commencement ceremony scheduled for Sunday, May 8, at 1 p.m. on the College's Quad. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held in the Recreation Center. Baccalaureate service will be held Saturday, May 7, at 4 p.m. in the Recreation Center.

Arthur A. Haberberger, a 1959 Lycoming alumnus and chairman emeritus of the College's board of trustees, will deliver the keynote address at commencement and receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.

The College also will present an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree to Dr. Joseph Kelly, who has served as executive director for the Pennsylvania Humanities Council since 1994. At PHC, Kelly has negotiated partnerships with several state agencies, including the Council on the Arts, the Historical and Museum Commission, and Commonwealth Libraries.

The senior greeting at commencement will be given by Robert Holmes of Oxford, Mass., a history major with a minor in political science. He is a member of Lycoming's cross country team, Theta Alpha Kappa, the honor society in Religion, and Phi Alpha Theta, the honor society in History.

The baccalaureate speaker is the Very Rev. Edward Hughes, a 1977 Lycoming alumnus who has served as pastor at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Lawrence, Mass., since 1989. He is the spiritual advisor to the Diocese of Worcester and New England Antiochian Women and dean of the New England Deanery. He also is chair of the archdiocese departments of liturgics and translations and is vicar general of The Western Rite Commission. Hughes and his wife, Anna, have four children: Sarah, a 2007 Lycoming graduate; Martha, a Lycoming senior; Michael, a Lycoming junior; and Elizabeth.

Haberberger has served on the College's board since 1999 and became chairman in April 2005. He is an investor. Haberberger was a director and CEO of Horrigan American Inc. He also was the founder, president and CEO of American Equipment Leasing Co., which was a subsidiary of Horrigan American Inc. Under his leadership, the company grew into one of the largest independent leasing companies in the United States. In addition, he was founding director of the American Bank and has served as a director of numerous corporations, including the Educators Mutual Life Insurance Company, the Vaughn Group, and the Arbee Group.

Haberberger and his wife, Joanne, have been generous supporters of Lycoming through their time, efforts and financial support of the mission of the College. They have supported the creation of 63 new student scholarships, endowed the Clean Water Institute's Laboratory Endowment Fund and created endowments to support student intern positions. The Joanne and Arthur Haberberger Fellowships were created and endowed to provide permanent support and recognition to high academic achieving rising seniors who display exceptional research and scholarship. In 1996, Haberberger received the College's Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award.

Lycoming College is a national liberal arts and sciences school dedicated to the undergraduate education of 1,400 students. It is recognized as a Tier 1 institution by U.S. News and World Report. Founded in 1812 in Williamsport, Pa., Lycoming is one of the 50 oldest colleges in the nation.